Originally published on Medium
If you’ve been curious about Kotlin Multiplatform (KMP) or already building cross-platform apps, I’ve got some great news for you:
You no longer need to go to the Kotlin website to create a KMP project.
Now, you can do it directly from IntelliJ IDEA or Android Studio thanks to the brand-new Kotlin Multiplatform plugin.
And yes — it includes support for Compose Multiplatform too!
The process just became smoother, smarter, and more beginner-friendly than ever.
🎉 A Simpler Way to Kickstart KMP Projects
Previously, setting up a KMP app meant either using the Kotlin project generator on the website or relying on a limited plugin that only supported pure Kotlin Multiplatform setup.
But now?
The official IDE plugin supports both KMP and Compose Multiplatform, offering a clean, built-in project wizard right where you need it — inside your IDE.
You can:
- Select target platforms (Android, iOS, web, desktop, etc.)
- Choose whether to use shared UI (Compose Multiplatform) or platform-specific UI
- Generate a fully working starter project with a few clicks
No more copy-pasting sample code or wondering if your setup is broken.
🧠 Smarter Environment Checks
The plugin also checks your system setup and tools, like:
- Java version
- Android SDK
- Xcode installation
- Gradle compatibility
If something’s missing or misconfigured, it tells you what’s wrong and how to fix it — before you hit a wall.
🚀 Preconfigured Targets That Just Work
Once indexing finishes, your new project comes with ready-to-run configurations.
You can:
- Launch Android or iOS simulators/emulators
- Test Compose on desktop
- Even run shared code in terminal or on web
It also helps set up real devices with minimal effort.
This is a big win, especially for mobile devs trying KMP for the first time.
🤝 Full Kotlin <-> Swift Support
If your project uses Kotlin for shared code and Swift on iOS, you’ll love this:
The plugin offers real cross-language IDE support, including:
- Navigation between Kotlin and Swift
- Code completion
- Inline documentation
- Cross-platform debugging
iOS debugging already works in Android Studio and IntelliJ IDEA Ultimate, with support coming to the Community edition soon.
🎨 Compose Multiplatform Just Leveled Up
This update isn’t just about backend plumbing — it brings a more complete Compose Multiplatform experience, too.
Here’s what’s new:
- Autocomplete and refactorings in shared UI code
- Live preview support inside the IDE
- Unified resource management for multiple platforms
- Compose for iOS is now officially stable 🎉
No more beta tags — Compose is now ready for production use across Android, iOS, desktop and web.
Now you can preview and iterate on UI without deploying to devices every time. That’s a massive boost for productivity.
🔁 Hot Reload = Smooth Dev Flow
My favorite part? Hot Reload is here — and it actually works.
With Hot Reload in Compose:
- You can tweak UI code and instantly see the result
- Your app state is preserved (no restarting!)
- It works even if your main app targets mobile, by using the desktop preview
It’s like turning your dev cycle into a test drive without pit stops 🏎️
🛠️ How to Get Started
Getting started is simple:
- Open IntelliJ IDEA or Android Studio
- Go to Plugins > Search for “Kotlin Multiplatform” (by JetBrains)
- Install it and restart the IDE
That’s it. The project wizard will guide you from there.
💬 Final Thoughts
This is a huge step for the KMP community. We’re no longer hacking things together — we now have official, streamlined support in the tools we use daily.
If you’re just starting out or thinking about exploring KMP, this is the best time to begin. Everything is smoother, smarter, and a lot more fun.
Big thanks to the amazing JetBrains team for making Kotlin better every day. This kind of progress really fuels the community to dream bigger.
Let me know what you think — and if you’re trying KMP for the first time, I’d love to hear how it goes!